Day 115 - Onion Sambar with fresh spices & coconut

Every once in a while, the mood strikes for a different version of the traditional Sambar. Instead of reaching out for the spice blend, I take the effort to toast coriander, fenugreek, split chana dal and a couple of arbol chiles along with shredded coconut and blend it into an aromatic paste that I then combine with a cooked blend of tamarind, sauteed onions & cooked dal. The extra effort is well worth it.